03:14Cooling towers of Germany's oldest nuclear power plant, Grafenrheinfeld, were demolished on Friday as a symbolic move, in line with the German government's transition away from nuclear power.
Footage shows cooling towers being blown up before dust clouds rose as many locals and photographers witnessed the event.
The destruction of the plant's two 143-meter tall cooling towers was initially scheduled for 5:30 PM local time (3:30 GMT) but was delayed until almost 8:00 PM (6 GMT) due to a protest by a pro-nuclear energy activist who climbed one of the towers to oppose its demolition.
"I was already against what they did. And as I said, shutting down a safe, CO2-free energy production is madness for me." said one local "Yes, it is too late now. Now the cooling towers are being blown up. Now we can't change anything. But normally it would have been right to maintain the energy supply, the safe one." he continued
"And the other because it is a spectacular event. I am always interested in that. I want to watch it. I want to hear the bang. I want to see the dust," a photographer said.
Grafenrheinfeld Nuclear Power Plant, located in Bavaria, began construction in 1975 and commenced commercial operations in 1982. It was the oldest nuclear power facility in Germany but was shut down in 2015 as part of the government's plan to phase out nuclear energy.
Germany aims to generate roughly 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050 as part of the 'Energiewende' (Energy Transition) plan.
Germany's oldest nuclear power plant demolished as symbolic move toward energy transition
Cooling towers of Germany's oldest nuclear power plant, Grafenrheinfeld, were demolished on Friday as a symbolic move, in line with the German government's transition away from nuclear power.
Footage shows cooling towers being blown up before dust clouds rose as many locals and photographers witnessed the event.
The destruction of the plant's two 143-meter tall cooling towers was initially scheduled for 5:30 PM local time (3:30 GMT) but was delayed until almost 8:00 PM (6 GMT) due to a protest by a pro-nuclear energy activist who climbed one of the towers to oppose its demolition.
"I was already against what they did. And as I said, shutting down a safe, CO2-free energy production is madness for me." said one local "Yes, it is too late now. Now the cooling towers are being blown up. Now we can't change anything. But normally it would have been right to maintain the energy supply, the safe one." he continued
"And the other because it is a spectacular event. I am always interested in that. I want to watch it. I want to hear the bang. I want to see the dust," a photographer said.
Grafenrheinfeld Nuclear Power Plant, located in Bavaria, began construction in 1975 and commenced commercial operations in 1982. It was the oldest nuclear power facility in Germany but was shut down in 2015 as part of the government's plan to phase out nuclear energy.
Germany aims to generate roughly 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050 as part of the 'Energiewende' (Energy Transition) plan.
Cooling towers of Germany's oldest nuclear power plant, Grafenrheinfeld, were demolished on Friday as a symbolic move, in line with the German government's transition away from nuclear power.
Footage shows cooling towers being blown up before dust clouds rose as many locals and photographers witnessed the event.
The destruction of the plant's two 143-meter tall cooling towers was initially scheduled for 5:30 PM local time (3:30 GMT) but was delayed until almost 8:00 PM (6 GMT) due to a protest by a pro-nuclear energy activist who climbed one of the towers to oppose its demolition.
"I was already against what they did. And as I said, shutting down a safe, CO2-free energy production is madness for me." said one local "Yes, it is too late now. Now the cooling towers are being blown up. Now we can't change anything. But normally it would have been right to maintain the energy supply, the safe one." he continued
"And the other because it is a spectacular event. I am always interested in that. I want to watch it. I want to hear the bang. I want to see the dust," a photographer said.
Grafenrheinfeld Nuclear Power Plant, located in Bavaria, began construction in 1975 and commenced commercial operations in 1982. It was the oldest nuclear power facility in Germany but was shut down in 2015 as part of the government's plan to phase out nuclear energy.
Germany aims to generate roughly 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050 as part of the 'Energiewende' (Energy Transition) plan.